Thorny rose symbol. 17th century engraving depicting a rose and bees. The text reads 'The rose gives honey to the bees'. This is a symbol of the Rosicrucian Order, a secret society of mystics that was founded in Germany in the early 17th century. Here the rose has concentric rings each of seven petals and is depicted above atop thorny cross. The bees symbolise the soul, being fed by the nectar of spiritual knowledge. This engraving comes from Medicina Catholica by Robert Fludd, printed at Frankfurt in 1629.